Service dog helps vet with PTSD

CULPEPER, Va. (WUSA9) -- This Veterans Day, an animal rescue group has found a way to help a soldier who suffers from PTSD.

Guardians of Rescue traveled to Culpeper from their headquarters in New York on Sunday to deliver a German Shepherd named Madeline to Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Rankins.

Madeline, who is one-year-old, has been trained by Guardians of Rescue to work as a service dog, providing comfort and support to Lance Corporal Rankins.

Lance Corporal Rankins served in the Marines, completing a tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. He suffers from a combat injury as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury.

He is now 100% disabled and not comfortable with leaving his home where he lives with his wife and three young children.

"I'm very much looking forward to having Madeline in our home. I think this is a great way to celebrate Veteran's Day and we can't wait for a new addition to the family," said Lance Corporal Ryan Rankins. "We are so grateful to Guardians of Rescue for arranging this for us and for everything they do, especially concerning our military."

After receiving Madeline,Lance Corporal Ryan Rankins left his house for the first time in two years.

This is not Guardians of Rescues's first placement of a service dog with a veteran who is suffering from PTSD.

"We have seen tremendous improvements and success with the veterans who have received our dogs and we hope Madeline makes a difference in Lance Corporal Rankins recovery," saidRobert Misseri, founder and president of Guardians of Rescue, a national animal rescue organization.

To learn more about service/therapy dogs, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log onto